Dr Syed Fadzleigh Bin Shafari

Ultimately I think it’s a summary of what everyone had said so far. It is a mammoth task like Fay said, and we only realised how big a task it was after the first few days of being in the dorms and swabbing. And being able to help directly as Badrun said, it makes us feel (like) at least we’re helping in this huge, huge task and it’s all hands on deck. That’s how I feel. I think all the help that can come in is really needed.

I think not just at the frontlines, but as Mohan said, the frontline when we reach there, right from the gate where the security guard is, everyone is just so happy that we’re there, you know? And the fear is palpable, you can see that when they get into the queues and sit down to wait for their turn, they’re very anxious. But by the time you’re done, they actually say a big thank you. What’s been memorable is being able to work internally to meet dentists from — you know Q&M is a very big group right?

You say besides the heat, well, I would say it’s the heat! I think a week into this, Badrun and I started fasting. And never, since I have reached adolescence until now -- I have never ever had to break my fast. And on the first day of fasting, and the new PPE suit came in -- it was completely impervious to moisture coming in or out, and I actually tapped out. I almost blacked out. Dr. Fay was there and a lot of the (inaudible), and they saved my rear by taking over. I needed to take a 30-minute timeout.

I was just talking to Mohan, he’s very lucky. So when I told my family that I’m going to do this, everyone’s like “Yeah! Go make a difference! ” And then when it was the eve of when we started -- I live in a jumbo flat, I come home and I’m cordoned off to one room, there’s a meal station set up, there’s a laptop for me to watch my Netflix, then I’m told by my wife that I can’t pick up my baby or interact with them anymore. But it’s fine, it all worked out fine. I think it’s worth it, and everyone’s very supportive.

I think it’s a summary of what everyone has said. Ultimately it’s this, this is real, and had I not gone to help in the factory-converted dorms, it would have never hit me. I would just be sitting at home, I’ll be bored, I’ll just be waiting for this 1st of June (4th of May), and say when is it all going to be over. But having been with everyone at the frontlines, I think what we are all concerned about is what’s going to happen on the 1st of June.